I'm So Sorry!
{I am as tired of waiting as you are if that's any consolation.} So, as it goes with most things, the "finishing" has a few more steps on it's way to perfection than expected. ...Since you've been so kind to stick with me, I'll just let you all know now, without being able to show you yet, what we've been working on. We (Teresa, Charlotte, Rebecca, Carolyn, Amy and I) are calling it our "petite livre". A small self published booklet with stories and photos and patterns and cut outs, inspiration galore, and so much more. It really is a true collaboration of all the artists. I hear I'm going to love it because it is so graphic laden and the paper is yummy. Yes, you read that right, I hear, because I haven't gotten my copy yet either. Most of us are patiently (and I impatiently) waiting for what we think is our final copy to be printed and shipped so we can double triple check it, and then, we'll finally have them ready to share with all of you. The great news is that there will be enough for anyone that wants one. So now at least you know, and you know there will be plenty, so hopefully that will be some small consolation for your patience. I really think you're going to find it worth the wait. Wouldn't want to send it out with anything that could be improved upon!
In the meantime, with my work for the book done for now, I thought I'd pay a little attention to the poor, neglected ol' blog. My sweet friend Connie asked about the flowers here at the new house, so I went out on this overcast day and took a couple shots of what's blooming. The top photo is of one of two lemon trees that are wonderfully established already in the backyard. I love that this house, just like our last one, has a hardy (is that the right word? it doesn't look right) lemon tree ready for the using, which we do a lot of: using those lemons.
Shortly after moving, the new owner of our old house called to say that we had mail ready for pick up. When my husband went to get it, he discovered that the new owner, a very organic gardener, had torn out many many rose bushes along with other flowering plants. I wish I could have told her that I never ever fed my roses anything- or used any pesticides either. They grew so beautifully with so much neglect. It seems the temperature here is perfect for neglecting roses. But, no matter, maybe she doesn't like roses anyway, it's her garden now to love as she sees fit. Anyway, after my husband mentioned to her how sad I would be, she told him we could have any of the remaining roses that we wanted, but it would need to be done quickly. (By the way, before listing the house, I begged him to transplant some special roses and hydrangeas and viburnum for me, but the empty weekend never came. That's how he knew I'd really be bummed (or mad at him!) to hear about so many going into the green waste.
So we called a gardener we had used over there, and we had him dig up and bring over all the remaining roses. Unfortunately, I couldn't be there that day. To remove the roses, they all had to be heavily pruned. What turned up at the new house was about 20 rose bushes that all looked nearly the same. It was a guessing game as to which ones were which. Hardly any had their name tags remaining. I didn't have room for them all, which made it all the harder, because there were certainly some that I wanted more than others. Now, I wait and see what blooms to see which ones I chose to keep. So far I've been quite pleased. (I gave the ones that I couldn't fit in to a girlfriend, who since gave them to her mother in law, so I'll never know which ones I gave away- it's probably better that way, except that now I have room for them. Boo hoo.) Of course I'll take more photos to share as they keep blooming.
more updating:
Yes, I still have a few kits. If you want some email me here and I'll tell you if I have what you want left. Thanks!
Hopefully, I'll get my copy of the book today and we'll have purchasing info ready for you very soon. I hope. I hope, I hope, I hope.
